Government and Politics of South Africa

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape, Western Cape

Legal System

based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Africa dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission of the government residency requirement for naturalization: 5 year

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 15 February 2018); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 15 February 2018); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 29 May 2024 (next to be held in 2029) election results: Cyril RAMAPHOSA reelected president by the National Assembly on 14 June 2024 following general elections in which the African National Congress (ANC) lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid; RAMAPHOSA secured sufficient support through a coalition government arrangement

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) and the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, 10 members elected by each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms; has special powers to protect regional interests, including the safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities). Elections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces - last held 29 May 2024 (next to be held in 2029). Election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 40.2%, DA 21.8%, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) 14.6%, EFF 9.5%, IFP 3.9%, PA 2.1%, other 7.9%; seats by party - ANC 159, DA 87, MK 58, EFF 39, IFP 17, PA 9, other 31. The 2024 election marked a historic turning point, as the ANC lost its outright parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994, resulting in the formation of a Government of National Unity. National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA.

Judicial Branch

Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrate Courts

Political Parties

African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE, president]; African National Congress or ANC [Thabo MBEKI, president]; Democratic Alliance or DA (formed from the merger of the Democratic Party or DP and the Freedom Alliance or FA) [Anthony LEON]; Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president]; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Stanley MOGOBA, president]; New National Party or NNP [leader NA]; United Democratic Movement or UDM [Bantu HOLOMISA]

Head of State

President Cyril RAMAPHOSA

Head of Government

President Cyril RAMAPHOSA

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Elections

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces - last held 29 May 2024 (next to be held in 2029).

Election Results

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 40.2%, DA 21.8%, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) 14.6%, EFF 9.5%, IFP 3.9%, PA 2.1%, other 7.9%; seats by party - ANC 159, DA 87, MK 58, EFF 39, IFP 17, PA 9, other 31. The May 2024 general election marked a historic turning point, as the ANC lost its outright parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994. With no single party securing more than 50% of the vote, the ANC entered into a broad coalition known as the Government of National Unity (GNU), bringing together multiple parties including the DA and IFP, among others, to form a stable governing arrangement. Cyril Ramaphosa was subsequently re-elected as President by the National Assembly. National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA.

Constitution

10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by then President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 3 February 1997; it is being implemented in phases

Independence

31 May 1910 (from UK); note - South Africa became a republic in 1961 following an October 1960 referendum

National Holiday

Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, BIS, C, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, NSG, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Joyce Mosima MASEKELA chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Jendayi E. FRAZER embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Pretoria mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001 telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048 FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244 consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

Capital City

Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)

Location

25 42 S, 28 13 E

Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

Pretoria is named in honor of Andries PRETORIUS, the father of voortrekker (pioneer) leader Marthinus PRETORIUS; Cape Town reflects its location on the Cape of Good Hope; Bloemfontein is a combination of the Dutch words bloem (flower) and fontein (fountain) meaning "fountain of flowers"

U.S. Embassy Pretoria 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria Telephone: (27-12) 431-4000 (from within South Africa 012-431-4000) Fax: (27-12) 431-5504 (from within South Africa 012-431-5504) U.S. Consulate General Johannesburg 1 Sandton Drive (opposite Sandton City Mall just west of the intersection of Sandton Drive and Rivonia Road), Johannesburg Telephone: (27-11) 290-3000 (from South Africa 011-290-3000) Emergency after-hours telephone: 079-111-1684 (from outside South Africa: 27 79-111-1684) Fax: (27-11) 884-0396 (from within South Africa 011-884-0396) Consular jurisdiction: Pretoria area and Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, and Free State provinces. U.S. Consulate General Cape Town 2 Reddam Avenue, West Lake 7945, Cape Town Telephone: (27-21) 702-7300 (from South Africa 021-702-7300) Emergency after-hours telephone: 021-702-7411(from outside of Africa 27 21-702-7411) Fax (27-21) 702-7493 (from within South Africa 021-702-7493) Consular jurisdiction: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Northern Cape provinces. U.S. Consulate General Durban Located at: The Old Mutual Building, 31st floor, 303 Dr. Pixley KaSeme Street, Durban 4001 Telephone: (27-31) 305-7600 (from within South Africa 031-305-7600) Emergency after-hours telephone: 079-111-1445 (from outside South Africa: 27 79-111-1445) Fax: (27-31) 305-7691 (from within South Africa 031-305-7691) Consular jurisdiction: KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Military Branches

South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army, South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), South African Military Health Services

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation